Maya's Next Step

Part 29

Carina POV

"Come here, come here bambina," I shouted over her cries.

The engines had just left.

She called Maya mommy.

I kinda hope Maya didn't hear her because it would break her heart having to turn her back and drive away from that.

"Mommy," Elva cried again, softer this time.

Now slightly calmer, Pruitt let go of her and I was able to keep hold by myself.

"Thank you," I smiled at him.

Elva continued sobbing in my arms. I manoeuvred her to cradle her like a baby. I swayed very slightly from side to side and tried to rest her head against my heart.

"Mama," she cried.

Was she referring to me or Maya?

I feel like she's decided that Maya is mommy, she called me mama last time despite being half asleep.

"I'm here bambina," I whispered over her cries.

"It's going to be a long wait for this one, you staying?" Pruitt asked me.

"No I'm going to get Elva home, it's already 7pm,"  I replied.

"Don't watch the news too much. It won't help you relax," he warned me.

"TV or no TV, I doubt I'll be relaxing," I sighed.

"They'll be fine," he said with authority.

I smiled and turned to leave with Elva still sobbing in my arms.

When we got home, her cries still hadn't stopped.

"Oh bambina," I said sadly, not knowing how to make this better for her.

"Come on let's get some dinner," I suggested.

Luckily, dinner was leftovers from the night before so all I had to do was heat it up.

I put Elva down and placed her bowl in front of her.

"Eat up bambina," I encouraged, starting to eat myself. Even I had a big knot of anxiety in my stomach.

She shook her head and cried, holding her arms out to me.

No way was I fighting this one.

I lifted her into my lap.

"Ahh ahhh no bambina," I said when she tried to turn and hide in my chest.

"You need to have something," I said firmly.

"Mama feed," she cried, tears flowing from her big, brown eyes.

I dragged her bowl towards me and picked up her fork.

"Open up bambina," I said softly, holding a forkful of food to her mouth.

"Good girl Elva," I encouraged.

After dinner, I ran Elva a bath. She needed to calm down and I thought it might help.

"In you get bub," I said as I lifted her in.

She held her arms back up for me and her bottom lip began to tremble.

I crouched down beside the bath and stroked her hair.

"I'm here, I'm not going anywhere," I assured her.

"I not stop," she sobbed, referring to her crying.

"You will bambina, mama will help," I smiled warmly.

I got her sponge and soap and gently washed her small body before letting her choose the shampoo she wanted.

"This one's Maya's," I winked, gesturing to the white and gold bottle.

She pointed at Maya's shampoo.

I thought the smell might be comforting.

After washing and rinsing her hair, I scooped her up in a big, fluffy towel and carried her into her bedroom.

I dried her off before looking for some clean pyjamas. I grabbed a pick, spotted onesie and quickly got her changed so she didn't get cold.

Her cries still hadn't fully stopped.

I was so worried she was going to make herself sick.

I needed her to get to sleep as soon as possible. I headed into the kitchen and heated up some almond milk for her.

"Elvie," I called.

I checked the lounge and her bedroom before checking mine and Maya's.

I found her rummaging in Maya's closet.

"Hey bambina, what you doing?" I asked, careful not to startle her.

"Want Maya," she cried, grabbing hold of one of Maya's t-shirts.

I climbed into bed and pulled the covers back. I quickly threw my shirt off, hoping that against my skin she'd calm down enough to sleep like she did for Maya.

"Okay bambina, it's okay come here," I said.

She got up and came over to me clutching Maya's t-shirt in her hands. I lifted her into bed and she rolled on top of me.

Somehow, I managed to feed her the milk as she lay with her head on my chest. One had gripping onto Maya's t-shirt, the other clinging to my bra. This baby did not want me going anywhere.

"Shhh bambina," I whispered

"Feel my heartbeat,"

"I've got you," I soothed.

She finished her milk and her eyes gently began to close. I wiped the remaining tears from her soft cheeks and kissed her head.

"Mama's got you,"

I carefully managed to unclasp her little hand from me and gently rolled her off my body. I covered her over and turned off the light.

It was about 9:30 now.

I grabbed a jumper to put back on and went into the lounge. 

I sat on the sofa and switched on the news, hoping for a positive update. I continued refreshing my phone, waiting for Maya to text or call.

For the first time that night, I let my walls down and cried.

Maya POV

Did she just call me mommy.

No, surely not.

But if she did....

I just left.

I needed to snap myself out of this and get my game face on.

I'd been working so hard on not using 'eyes forward' but if there was ever a time for it, it was now.

"You ready?" Herrera asked as we pulled up at the scene.

"Let's go," I said.

I jumped out the truck and headed straight over to the battalion chief who was in full command.

"Station 19 sir," I told him.

Authors note.

Ooooo what do you want to happen???